Vince Proby

{{short description|African American artist and architect}}

Vincent J. Proby (1928 - 1987) was an artist and architect in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lacountyarts.org/civicart/objects-1/info/176|title=Untitled | LA County Arts Commission|website=www.lacountyarts.org}} Tulane University has a collection of his papers{{Cite web|url=http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=accessions/accession&id=655|title=Proby, Vincent J. papers, 1977-1989 | Amistad Research Center|website=amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu}} at its Amistad Research Center.{{Cite web|url=http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/?p=creators/creator&id=476|title=Proby, Vincent J. | Amistad Research Center|website=amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLwiAQAAMAAJ&q=Vincent+J.+Proby|title=Amistad Reports|date=April 27, 1987|publisher=The Center|via=Google Books}}

Early life

Proby was born in Wichita County, Texas and moved with his family to Los Angeles. He studied at Los Angeles high schools, Los Angeles Junior College, and University of Southern California.

Career

He was project manager for several large projects before establishing his own architectural firm.{{Cite web|url=https://lacountylibrary.org/willowbrook-local-history/|title=LA County Library|website=LA County Library}}

He was the first African American to serve on California's State Board of Architectural Examiners.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aG5Pk4BTME0C&q=Vincent+J.+Proby&pg=PA53|title=Black Enterprise|first=Earl G. Graves|last=Ltd|date=March 27, 1978|publisher=Earl G. Graves, Ltd.|via=Google Books}}

Proby designed the A. C. Bilbrew Public Library including its interior colored glass ornamentation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nourmand.com/posts/la-curbed-15-notable-los-angeles-projects-where-black-architects-left-their-mark|title=LA Curbed: 15 notable Los Angeles projects where black architects left their mark|website=Nourmand & Associates}}{{Cite web|url=https://publicartarchive.org/art/Untitled/31809311|title=Untitled|website=Public Art Archive}} He was photographed at the library in 1984 next to Frances E. Williams as she was honored by Kenneth Hahn.{{Cite web | url=https://calisphere.org/item/307056139f3ff503d0a4a70027ed2975/ |title = Kenneth Hahn Honors Frances Williams at African American Living Legends Series Program| date=19 February 1984 }} He was also photographed at the Paul R. Williams tribute event in 1973 by Thelner B. Hoover.https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection/search?edan_q=*:*&edan_fq[]=p.edanmdm.indexedstructured.name:%22Proby,+Vincent+J.%22&edan_local=1&op=Search

Work

  • Howard Family home in Ladera Heights
  • West Bleacher Structure (1968){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8FRAAAAMAAJ&q=Vincent+J.+Proby|title = The Performance of Public School Plants During the San Fernando Earthquake|year = 1974|publisher = California Institute of Technology}}
  • A. C. Bilbrew Public Library in Willowbrook, Los Angeles (1974)
  • California African American Museum with Jack Haywood in Willowbrook (1984){{Cite web |title=The California African American Museum founded|url=http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/|date=2014-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214204646/http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=2014-12-14}}
  • The Teasley Residence

References